Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today received approval from the Cuban government to operate cruises to Cuba beginning March 2017.

The company that includes Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas has plans for all three brands to make initial sailings from PortMiami with stops in Havana in either March, April or May next year. The first up will be Oceania Marina on March 7.

"We are tremendously excited to have all three of our award-winning brands receive approval from the Cuban authorities to offer cruises to Cuba from the United States," said company president and CEO Frank Del Rio who was born in Cuba. "As a Cuban-American and founder of Oceania Cruises, I am incredibly proud that one of Oceania's vessels will be our company's first to sail to Cuba. This is truly a dream come true for me, and I cannot wait for our loyal guests to experience the sights and sounds of my hometown of Havana and get to know its rich culture and its warm and welcoming residents."

Marina will make stops in Havana as part of select Caribbean sailings, some offeirng multi-day calls so cruisers can spend more time on the island. Seven Seas Mariner will be the first Regent Seven Seas ship to call on Cuba beginning with two cruises in April. Norwegian Sky will be the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to sail with four-night sailings that overnight in Havana starting in May.

Details on exact dates, prices and bookings will be available Thursday for Oceania, later this month for Regent and Dec. 20 for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Carnival Corp. was the first U.S.-based cruise line to visit Cuba on a regular basis in nearly 50 years when it sailed on May 1 on its Fathom brand aboard the Adonia as part of an approach that was aimed to provide passengers cultural and educational immersion in the Cuban culture.

The Carnival Corp. cruise ship Adonia's 700 passengers disembarked in Havana on May 2, 2016 after arriving from Miami on its historic US-Cuba cruise.

The Carnival Corp. cruise ship Adonia's 700 passengers disembarked in Havana on May 2, 2016 after arriving from Miami on its historic US-Cuba cruise.

The cost for one of Adonia's seven-night voyages starts at $1,900 per person, based on double occupancy.

The agreement with Cuba for Norwegian's three brands does not extend past May, and that is also the date that Adonia's agreement with Cuba ends.

Also on Wednesday, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced it had also received approval from Cuba to sail in the spring. The line said it will send ships from two of its cruise lines, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises. CEO Richard Fain has said that the Empress of the Seas, which currently sails out of Miami on short cruises, would be perfect to serve the company's Cuban cruise itineraries.